Calf-mother interrelationship: I-the effect of calf contact on milk parameters

ABSTRACT

Ten buffalo-low of a milking buffalo herd were used in this study to investigate the effect of calf contact on dam status [milk yield and composition as well as milking characteristics]. The experimental animals were divided into two groups a] Suckling group in which calves were kept with their dams and suckled milk in a natural way. b] Milking group in which calves separated from their dams 3-5 days post calving the dams were hand milked and the calves suckled milk artificially via nipple pail. Daily milk yield was estimated milk samples were taken and analysed for fat%, lactose%, protein% and ash%. Morever, weekly determination of pre-milking stimulation, milking duration and milk flow rate were carried out for each animal. It was concluded that average daily milk yield was significantly higher [9.15 +/- 0.80 kg] in milking group than in suckling one [7.82 +/- 0.95 kg]. Average butter fat% was significantly higher in milking group [6.26 +/- 0.72 gm%] than in suckling one [5.59 +/- 1.1 gm%]. However, variations in lactose, protein and ash lacked significance [4.15 +/- 0.17 gm%, 3.90 +/- 0.18 gm% and 0.8 +/- 0.04 gm% in suckling group vs. 4.08 +/- 0.28 gm/%, 3.12 +/- 0.25 gm%, and 0.85 +/- 0.06 gm% in milking one respectively]. It was also found that pre-suckling stimulation was significantly shorter [2.02 +/- 0.37 minutes] than pre-milking stimulation [2.61 +/- 0.95 minutes]. Moreover, suckling duration was significantly longer than milking duration [7.06 +/- 2.01 vs, 4.66 +/- 0.67 minutes respectively]. Also, milk flow rate averaged 0.63 +/- 0.17 and 1.12 +/- 0.12 kg/minute for suckling and milking groups respectively and showed a significant variation